nikki roddy

I create and execute engaging experiences and content that connect with audiences across a variety of platforms. A seasoned freelance writer and editor, I've authored two published books; as well as numerous articles on music, nightlife, and fashion for online and print publications.

Experience

Jan
2016 - Present

Senior Marketing and Events Manager / frog

Mar
2014 - Present

Marketing Communications Manager / frog

As the Marketing Communications Manager in San Francisco, I manage all aspects of our US events and awards program. Additionally, I oversee global portfolio marketing and assist with both global internal communications and U.S. media relations.

At Method, I worked closely with teams across disciplines and across offices to produce valuable social media and web content, as well as marketing and business development assets, such as photography and case studies. Passionate about connecting our office with both the local and worldwide design and business communities, I managed a range of Method events and contributed to the overseeing of our conference attendance and award recognition.

With a strong writing and research background, I contributed to several client engagements to produce website messaging, copy, and style guidelines.

Kristin Klein is basically the Kevin Bacon of the indie music scene. Having tour managed a long list of bands (including Deerhunter, Atlas Sound, Black Lips, and Thee Oh Sees), she is tangentially connected to just about everyone on Pitchfork’s crush list. So as I was looking her up to talk about her vintage store, Vacation, which opened in the Tenderloin last June, I wasn’t surprised to learn that the small cluster of friends I have who work in music happen to be mutual friends of hers.

What’s your idea of a productive lunch break? Mine involves returning a failed online shopping purchase to FedEx with just enough time to grab a sandwich to shove into my face back at my desk.

DJ Matt Haze, of the Slayers Club collective, hates this. “A lot of my friends work in the tech industry or in finance,” he explains. “Even though they’re eating a nice gourmet lunch, they’re eating it at their desks. They’re not taking a moment to breathe or take their eyes off the monitor… I want to provide an outlet for people during the day.”

Hi friends! Hopefully if you’re reading this, your new year’s eve was happy and safe and left you with a renewed sense of newness and all that stuff! This is your year, tiger! Look at you!

I had a great time ringing in two thousand and twelve by dancing (some might better describe it as “wildly spinning and jumping around”) with a lot of good friends to a killer dance mix in my living room. The next morning, we dragged ourselves to the crepe spot around the corner and then lounged a bit in dolores park, enjoying the unseasonably sunniness. [Pics to follow hopefully if I can get my hands on some once people start uploading to Facebook]

All in all, it was awesome and every additional day I get to spend in San Francisco reminds me that I am extraordinarily blessed. I love this city, my boyfriend, my family, my friends, and my work. Yay for 2012! Come at me, bro.

Woah. Publishers Weekly called my book “spicy”…I could not be more thrilled!

“In this sardonic gift book, Roddy extracts the implicit messages behind such popular teen movies as Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (“To jumpstart a better relationship with your dad, let your best friend cost him millions in property damage”) and Clueless (“A smart, sensitive guy will eventually fall for a ditzy, self-serving girl as long as she promises to be a little nicer to people—and is ridiculously hot”).

“Roddy analyzed fifty popular films and gleaned fifty inappropriate life lessons from them, which she gleefully shares with readers, along with “Sound Bites” (quotes), film stills, a synopsis of each, and goofy multiple-choice questions. Don’t sweat the quiz, it won’t be counted as part of your grade…”

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to speak to the YALSA (Young Adult Library Association) teens at San Leandro Library. It was really fun and interesting, and the librarian, Chris, did a write up of my visit:

“One of the coolest things about having our teens write reviews for SLJTeen is that they get to meet people like Nikki Roddy, Zest Books’ marketing and research manager. Last month, Nikki stopped by a meeting of the Sneak Peek Reviewers Club at our library to give the kids an insiders’ view of the publishing biz….”

One of the cooler perks of working in the publishing industry (Have I mentioned that I work for a book publisher? Well, I do. I also have no long-term memory) is that I consistently get my grubby little hands on galleys, which are unformatted copies of books before they hit the shelves. Mostly, they generate sales and buzz for the book. And generate they do!

So, I’m going to give a special holler at two new books coming out by one of my favorite YA authors, Lauren Oliver. You should immediately pre-order these:

Liesl & Po. This is a middle grade book, but I really think all ages could read and fall in love with this story. The writing is beautiful and the story is whimsical and poignant. I think I was in tears by page 4. Pre-order!

Pandemonium. This is the second book in a trilogy. The first book is Delirium, a dystopian novel set in a world were love is considered a dangerous disease, and citizens line up to be “cured” on their eightieth birthdays. I’m not finished with the second book yet, but it’s already as exciting as the first book. Delirium is on sale now, so get that and then you’ll be ready for when Pandemonium comes out in March. Pre-order!

That’s all for now! But if you feel like it, click over to my GOODREADS account* and friend me.

Now, I’m off to the Russian River (about 1 ½ hrs north from San Francisco) to play wiffle ball, eat BBQ, float on the river, and celebrate two of my friends’ birthdays. And of course, there will be dancing. Oh yes…

Yeah, my life has been far from exciting these days. The best part of writing a book is finishing writing a book. But I’m not there yet.

We’re about a week past our final draft deadline and closing in on our 5th edit. But my little baby is definitely, almost there. It’s crazy to think that this book is slotted to be on the shelves this December. More updates on that later.

Once my daily routine does not involve waking up at 6am to get in 1-2 hours of editing before work, coming home to edit after work, and turning down social playtime to edit, I’m going to go nuts. Yes, I’m buying myself 1 ticket to Fun City. Get ready.

Anyway, I wanted to write a little blurb about finishing Book Thief because it was awesome and I highly recommend you read it. Now, I’m spending my time waiting for the bus by reading Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher. I’m still on the first few pages, and it’s felt slightly slow, but I like the narrative voice, so we’ll see what happens.

Ooh, one more thing: I’m going to my first monster truck rally this weekend in Oakland. One of my friends who is also going has been to 17 monster truck rallies in his life. This will be his EIGHTEEN MONSTER TRUCK RALLY. I am VERY excited.

Hey there. I want to keep things alive over here, so how about a quick update on my current writing life and the fabulous distractions all up in it? If you didn’t read my post below, I’m working on a second book, which is definitely, absolutely happening…for reals. The first drafts of cover designs just came in this week! Eeeeeee! (That always makes things feel a little more real.) I’ll post more about the book when I can.

Because a full-time job + book writing is keeping me insanely busy, I had to go on a freelance writing diet, so I don’t have any new articles to post. But! I wanted to share a couple great books I’ve read lately:

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

So so late to the party on this one, but I finally read it. I liked it. Larsson knows how to write a page-turner (obvs). His writing style reminded me a lot of Dan Brown’s. The Lisbeth character kicked ass, but I found it a little…eh, torture-porny, I guess? I read the first few pages of The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest and it starts off with a 13-year-old being tortured. Um, yeah. Not sure if I can stomach the second book. Just watched the original movie on Netflix and wasn’t super impressed. I thought they left out a lot of key elements that made the book compelling (ex. Mikel and Erika’s complicated relationship). I’ll probably see the new movie, just because.

IT’S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY

I’ll admit that I only picked this book up because I wanted to see the movie because I love Zach Galifianakis. I still haven’t seen the movie, but I thought the book was OK. It read like Vizzini’s autobiography, which I think it pretty much was. It didn’t blow my mind or anything, but I liked reading a story from a dark and twisted teen boy perspective.

THE BOOK THIEF

Just started this one. It’s been on the NYTBest Seller for like close to 200 weeks, so I wanted to get in on the love. I’m not a big holocaust fiction fan (I feel like I read enough holocaust books in high school to last me forever), but this book hooked my shit from the first page. I don’t want to give anything away, but it’s really good, you guys. Like really cool and different and interesting. I’m sure I’ll have a more glowing recommendation when I’m done.

OK, that’s it for now. After I finish The Book Thief I’m going to move on to Almost Perfect which generated a ton of excitement at the American Library Association Midwinter conference this past weekend. It’s a story about a small-town Missouri boy who falls for a new girl at school. She eventually confesses that she’s a biological male. I flipped through the book at ALA and instantly loved the writing style. Can’t wait to find out why it’s such an award winner.

Why, hello there! I’m thrilled to announce I’ve been working on a second book project, so that’s why there’s been less freelance work posted recently. I can’t give too many details yet, but I can say it’s another fun non-fiction book for teens, and I’ve been watching an insane amount of classic teen movies for research. Really really serious stuff, obviously.

Life for the Born Ruffians keeps getting bigger. They have a second record, Say It (released by Warp Records), they’re playing larger venues on this year’s international tour, and they’ve even added a fourth member to strengthen their live sound. But while the young, Canadian indie rockers have certainly established themselves; you might not guess it by their no-frills touring style.

Fans who attended a recent show at San Francisco’s Rickshaw Stop watched the band park their own tour van, work the merch table, and set up their own equipment on stage; things you’d expect from the opening band, but hardly the headliners. This genuine approachability kept their fans huddled around the band members before the show, asking for photos and hugs. Mitch Derosier (bass), Steve Hamelin (drums), and Andy Lloyd (guitar/keyboard) chatted happily with the crowd, while frontman, Luke LaLonde, received the more emotional attention from star-struck fans. At one point, a zealous teenage boy swung his skinny arms around LaLonde’s neck professing, “oh man. Just looking at you, I could cry.” The fan proceeded to describe which Born Ruffians song perfectly encapsulated his life. “Wow,” LaLonde replied, with total sincerity.

Matt & Kim are the two happiest performers I’ve ever seen in my entire life.

Sure, I had watched the dancepop duo in various YouTube clips, and I was aware of their lively stage act (they are known to prefer warehouse and basement venues over clubs, and encourage crowd surfing); however, nothing could have prepared me for the band’s live performance at the Mezzanine.

The C Word

Written by: Nikki Roddy

Meet C*nt Sparrer, Long Beach’s finest lo-fi, all-girl, Cock Sparrer cover band. After the YouTube videos they made on a whim unexpectedly earned them 1,000+ fans on Facebook, the girls decided to take their act from the Internet to venues across the West Coast. 944 speaks with the dynamic duo about their eyebrow-raising band name and what constitutes “punk.“

Ben Bridwell has made it clear he is a man of few words. After “hello” and “thank you” the Band of Horses frontman passed up any further opportunity for small talk Saturday night, and instead, powered right into the band’s first song. They opened with “Monsters” off first record, Everything All the Time. Bridwell’s voice reverberated out into the crowd: clear, powerful, and spilling with rawness. The big arena sound the band is known for took over the more intimate venue, and with each bass line and drum beat, I could feel the sound travel through the floor, shaking up through my feet.

As The Independent buzzes with pre-show energy, I wonder if the rumors about Yacht are true. Will there be PowerPoint? Audience Q&A sessions? How about guided meditation? Did Jona Bechtolt, former member of The Blow, really turn his relatively underdeveloped solo project into a fully realized, multi-dimensional experience? (The answer to all these questions is “yes”, but I don’t know it yet.)

Saturday night at The Independent, the crowd buzzed with excitement while waiting for The Antlers to take the stage. The tangible energy was a product of the sold out show. Everyone was a committed fan, wanting the same thing…for The Antlers to come out and play.

Of course, they had to wait a little. The opening band was Phantogram, made up of guitarist Josh Carter and keyboardist Sarah Barthel. Both were fun to watch shaking around on stage and Sarah’s voice echoed beautifully against their catchy psych pop beats. After leaving the show, I remember telling my friend I didn’t think their music was that catchy, but I caught myself humming their songs, “As Far As I Can See” and “Mouthful of Diamonds”, for days afterward, so I stand corrected. The more I listen to their album, Eyelid Movies, the more I like it.

Everyone laughed when Mark Kozelek admitted to the audience at The Great American Music Hall on Saturday night that he had “just rolled out of bed for this”. The front man of Sun Kill Moon and Red House Painters is a San Francisco local after all, and the idea that he stumbled out after a nap to play a Noise Pop Festival show is kind of cool, right? My only hang up was that it did sort of sound like…well, that he had just rolled out of bed.

There is something really special about Owen Pallett’s live show. Sure, you can listen to his albums or watch YouTube videos of the young, Canadian violinist (formerly known as Final Fantasy), but there’s nothing like standing in a room with him, your mind spinning, attempting to process everything that’s happening.

Simple, almost childlike melodies fill the room, gradually looping, building on each other, and creating a powerful and complex development of sound. Soothing, operatic-like vocals blend softly into the music, and the result is beautiful. It’s all created right in front of you, but it seems too complicated and big to be the result of one man with one violin. The whole thing is mind-boggling, really.

I was lucky to witness all of this live when Pallett came to Bottom of the Hill.

To be honest, I had never heard of Megafaun before I saw them open for Bon Iver this past September. Minutes before they take the stage, I learn they are longtime friends and former band mates of Justin Vernon (a.k.a. Bon Iver), piquing my interest in what this folksy three-piece from Wisconsin have to offer.

For what started as a four-track project in the mid 90’s for Eric D. Johnson, Fruit Bats has done an excellent job of growing up into a real rock band. Friendships and tours with Modest Mouse, Iron & Wine, and Vetiver inspired record labels to initially take notice, and Johnson’s move to permanently join The Shins in 2007 undoubtedly helped grow the Fruit Bats’ fan base. But if the audience was expecting to see a mini-Shins show when Fruit Bats took the stage at The Independent recently, they were pleasantly proved wrong.

Known for larger breasts, bleached eyebrows, a sizeable gap between her two front teeth, and hips that round out between a U.S. size 4 and size 6, Lara Stone is different from what we’ve become accustomed to seeing on the runway and in fashion magazines. (While a size 4 is still extremely thin, size 4 models are almost unheard of in the modeling business. Today, most models average between a size 0 and a size 2.) Stone’s commanding presence and comparatively curvy physique are a throwback to the times of “supermodels” like Cindy Crawford, Claudia Schiffer, and Naomi Campbell, women known for their beautiful curves and Amazonian stature.

Some of the best bands sing the praises of ordinary life. When Jens Lekman describes, “slicing up an avocado,” or Modest Mouse howls over “traveling swallowing Dramamine,” we’re reminded of everyday life in all its beautiful and mundane glory. There are other bands, however, whose music transports the listener from familiar surroundings to a different world. The critically acclaimed quintet, Fleet Foxes, is the latter.

In the same way The Decemberists found mainstream appeal by conjuring imagery of legionnaires and petticoats, Fleet Foxes captures listeners with lyrical tales of silver knives and frozen rivers. But while they sometimes border on fantasy, their music remains effortlessly heartfelt and honest, booming with the power and yearning of the twentysomethings behind it.

It’s no wonder that when Fleet Foxes made their way to San Francisco in April, the Palace of Fine Arts sold out immediately. Taking the stage, the five members of Fleet Foxes appear dressed in varying shades of plaid, and all but one, (lead guitarist Skyler Skjelset), sport large, scruffy beards, making the young group with rugged charm look less like average hipsters, and more like genuine woodsmen plucked from a mountaintop. The show’s only downside is the venue’s seating arrangement, which requires the audience to stay seated during the show. Even lead singer, Robin Pecknold, comments on the theatre’s uncanny resemblance to a high school auditorium.

You may be a Rogue Wave fan and not even know it. This is precisely what a bouncing brunette at The Independent realized Sunday night. In the middle of the electric, hour-long set, she gleefully shouted in my ear, “I didn’t know this was their song! I love this song!” I wasn’t surprised. With 3 successful albums under their belt, Rogue Wave’s melodic and wistful tracks have appeared on an impressive collection of popular television series and movie soundtracks. Rogue Wave is simply one of those remarkable bands that everyone knows of, whether he or she is conscious of it or not.

The sold out show was clearly a testament to the band’s relevance, but it was also a symbolic night of strength and hope, organized by the D.A Taylor Charitable Foundation. Founded in 2006 to honor D.A Taylor, a teenager who tragically died from meningitis, The Foundation aims open up doors to higher education for underprivileged youth.

Rogue Wave is perhaps the perfect band to couple with the D.A Foundation, having faced a series of painful and tragic events in recent years, making them more sympathetic than most to life’s mysterious and fateful twists and turns.

From the moment the Obama family moved into the White House, our newest President and his wife became instant American icons. A beautiful and intelligent African-American couple, the Obamas exist under a social microscope with the media reporting on virtually every aspect of their lives.

In the midst of all the Obamamania, one of the most interesting news trends is the increasing interest in Michelle Obama, often subjecting her to a level of attention beyond the normal scrutiny reserved for a first lady.

Michelle Obama has essentially become public domain, with every aspect of her body up for discussion, from her clothing choices to her physical body itself.

In 1994, Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman were brutally stabbed to death at her home in California. In what proved to be one of the most captivating cases in American culture, O.J. Simpson, Nicole’s ex-husband and former NFL superstar, stood trial for the murders. Simpson was ultimately found not guilty of criminal charges, but was found liable in a subsequent civil case.

In 2006, HarperCollins announced the release of a shocking publication: “If I Did It.” A confession disguised as a “hypothetical,” the book was Simpson’s personal recount of the infamous night, explaining how he would have committed the murders. In response to public outrage that Simpson would profit from the book sales, HarperCollins canceled the book. In August 2007, a court transferred the book rights to the Goldmans, to help recover the $35 million Simpson owed the family from the civil trial verdict. The Goldman family released the book in September 2007.

Not usually drawn to morbid subject matter; I finished this quick read in only two sittings. I found it impossible to read the words approved by O.J Simpson and not feel overwhelming sadness for the Brown and Goldman families. Simpson’s tone indicates no remorse or responsibility for the gruesome deaths of Nicole and Ron. The book, however, is undeniably fascinating. Perhaps the best reason to buy the book is to support the Goldman family. Viewing it as a confession, the Goldmans urge the public to read this book. Despite all they’ve lost, they still believe in the healing power of the truth, a truth we should all know.

At exactly 8pm, the Fillmore dims its house lights. Apparently, the pioneers of punk like to start things on time.

Target Video begins its tribute film, an appropriate way to kick off the evening. Grainy, vintage, black and white concert footage of The Nuns, Noh Mercy, Iggy Pop and Dead Kennedys flashes across the screen. Crude and intense, the video is like moshing down memory lane for the older audience members. For the youngsters (i.e., anyone born during/after the 1980s), Target Video has basically created a “History of Punk” crash course, a dirty and raw celebration of the West Coast punk scene in the 1970s and the musical revolutionaries behind it. With the elite founders of punk preparing to the take the stage, anticipation is thick in the air. This promises to be a great show.

9pm. The hour-long film ends, and with no real introduction, Negative Trend takes the stage. Formed in 1979, the band has since broken up, with all members moving on to notable success in their own right, but they have reformed for this show. Lead singer Paul Casteel welcomes the crowd, asking if they are “ready to see some pioneers.” Surprisingly, the reaction is lukewarm. The crowd gives a halfhearted cheer, but seem more interested in yelling “get a haircut, hippie!” in reference to the singer’s long, tangled locks, which dangle midway down his back.

Unaffected by the crowd’s lack of enthusiasm, Negative Trend powerfully charges through a 30-minute set, including notable hits, “Mercenaries” and “How Ya Feelin’?” Their energy is infectious, and eventually the crowd warms up, sending the band off the stage with an eruption of howling and applause.

interview by Nikki Roddy

With the US in economic crisis and only days away from deciding one of the most critical elections in its history, the prevailing attitude of general America can safely be described as one of fear. Fear so thick and palpable that it feels like everyone is engaging in a collective nail-biting session and bunkering down for the worst.

Well, maybe not everyone. Joey Burns, the prolific guitarist and vocalist of genre-defying Calexico, seems to be one man able to keep a level head.

I had the privilege of speaking with Burns on the phone just days after he and John Convertino, the drummer and second half of Calexico’s core duo, had returned from their European tour. With a few weeks off before embarking on a set of US shows, Burns describes spending downtime with his girlfriend, working on a side project (writing musical numbers for an operatic version of the Tennessee Williams’ play, “The Glass Menagerie—a friend is directing the opera), and drinking Italian wine, a souvenir brought over from the most recent tour. When asked if he has any secrets to recovering from jet lag, he offers this wisdom: “Listen to your body if it’s tired. Drink lots of water and keep a sense of humor, because your bags might not arrive for two weeks after you, and your brain may not arrive until two weeks after that.”

His tone is relaxed and sincere whether describing European crowds (“Paris crowds are my favorite; they’re very respectful, really engaging”), or locals only spots he seeks out when touring different cities (“It’s about meeting people and exploring stranger places that you wouldn’t end up going…You look for those places that evoke character”), and I take away the impression that Burns is a person who finds pleasure in the simple things.

It is this same peaceful, open nature that Burns manages to express through his music. Calexico’s sixth studio LP, Carried to Dust, which released this past September, is an undisputed beauty. Richly layered, hauntingly poignant, and powerful in its complexity, the album’s 15 tracks showcase a harmonious blend of Southwestern jazz, country, and indie rock, as well as heavy South American influences. Carried to Dust is also one of Calexico’s most collaborative albums to date. In addition to friend and past-contributor, Iron & Wine’s Sam Bean, the album unveils many artists the band has not collaborated with before. Pieta Brown, Douglas McCombs, Mickey Raphael, Amparo Sanchez, and Jairo Zavala all make distinct contributions to their respective tracks.

This year, I’m spending the holiday season with some of my favourite men: Jack Daniels, Jose Cuervo, and Jim Bean. Oh, you know them? What a coincidence!

These old friends (It’s normal to consider alcohol a friend, right?) make the perfect holiday guests, and for good reason. With the pressures of gift giving, psychotic shopping malls, seasonal depression, parties and family gatherings, everyone is bound to be a bit frazzled by December. Alcohol can simultaneously loosen you up, transform awkward small talk with co-workers and relatives to sparking banter, and inspire joyful jiving on the dance floor.

The following is a tribute to the holiday spirit…of getting trashed. After these traditional and trendy drink ideas and tips, hopefully you will feel inspired to raise your glasses and toast to this wonderful holiday season!

A Happy Holiday Reminder:

That ‘Candy Cane Martini’ may taste amazing and make you feel like the hottest thing at the holiday party, but celebrate with caution. Your boss/family/everyone will remember you drunkenly knocking over the Christmas tree or grinding Santa on the dance floor long after the mistletoe come down. Booze is supposed to alleviate stress, not cause more problems! Always drink responsibly and never drink and drive. Drunk-driving fatalities notoriously skyrocket during the holiday months, a tragic and avoidable occurrence. Take taxis, designate sober drivers, or call friends and family for rides.

Words By Nikki Roddy

Photos by Dreamstime

Heat Things Up

Although Malaysia’s tropical climate assures you’ll never see a snowflake, constant air-conditioning can turn pretty chilly. Luckily, tis’ the season for warm, soothing brews. Get into the winter mood by dialing down the air-con; wrapping yourself in a fluffy blanket and sipping on the following comfort cocktails:

Mulled Wine

Popular all over the world, Mulled Wine is usually red wine combined with spices and served piping hot. The recipe originated thousands of years ago, when wine often went bad. By adding cinnamon and honey the wine could be made drinkable again. This elixir is perfect for holiday parties because it can be prepared in advance and served in a large punch bowl, effortless and classy!

HOT MULLED WINE RECIPE

What You Need:

1 ½ c. boiling water

½ c. sugar

½ lemon, sliced

4 sticks cinnamon

2 whole cloves

1 lg. bottle Burgundy, Claret or other red inner wine

Nutmeg or other spices

Mix It Up:

Combine boiling water, sugar, lemon, cinnamon and cloves, stirring the hot mixture until the sugar dissolves. Next, add the red wine and simmer for about 15 minutes. Make sure the wine is not boiling. Move into a large punch bowl and sprinkle with nutmeg or favourite holiday spices.

When thinking of hot spirits, Irish Coffee is the most iconic. Below is a fool-proof recipe for this traditional treat, as well as a few others. In a hurry? Concoct buzz-inducing delights by combining your favourite liqueur with hot tea, hot water, or hot milk (regular or soy.) For optimum turnout, heat the alcohol along with the other ingredients. Always remember to stock up on whipped cream and apply generously!

THE ORIGINAL IRISH COFFEE

What You Need:

1 cup Black Coffee

1 tsp. Brown sugar

1 ½ oz. Irish whiskey

1 dollop Heavy cream

Mix It Up:

Start with a hot cup of black coffee. Add a heaping spoonful of brown sugar and stir until fully dissolved. The fun part: add whiskey! Pour heavy cream over top, but don’t stir the two. For the authentic experience, drink brew through the thick cream. Whipped cream can be a delectable substitute for cream.

HOT MINT KISS

What You Need:

I cup Hot chocolate

1 oz. Peppermint schnapps

Mix It Up:

Pour peppermint schnapps into a heatproof mug or glass. Fill with hot chocolate and stir. Add a heaping dollop of whipped cream.

YOUR MOTHER’S HOT BUTTERED RUM

What You Need:

1 teaspoon Sugar

1 teaspoon Butter

1 ounce Light Rum

3 whole Clove

5 ounces Water

Mix It Up:

My favorite rainy day drink, this can also be made when you’re struck with a nasty cold. In your largest mug, mix the sugar, butter, rum and cloves. Fill with boiling water and stir until you can’t wait any longer to indulge.

Cool and Sparkling

Sometimes it is just too hot outside (hello tropics!), and the last thing you want is a temperature-raising concoction. Below are specialty chillers, guaranteed to pack a punch as they tickle your taste buds.

CANDY CANE MARTINI

What You Need:

2 oz. Vodka

2 tsp. Peppermint schnapps

Mix It Up:

Shake shake shake together in an ice shaker and pour into chilled martini glasses. Place a tiny candy cane on the inside rim for a playful drink stirrer.

CRANBERRY CHAMPAGNE COCKTAIL

What You Need:

3/5 of a glass Champagne

1/5 glass Orange flavoured vodka

1 Sugar cube

Mix It Up:

Mix all the ingredients together and serve in a champagne flute. Dip rims of champagne flutes in sugar and drop a few fresh cranberries in each glass for a festive twist.

Eat, Drink And Be Merry!

Alcohol stimulates your appetite, making savoury and sweet foods taste all the better. Luckily during the holidays there’s tons of fabulous food around! Aside from tasting wonderful, food serves as a useful buffer between you and drunksville. As I said earlier, ‘sloppy’ is not a good look for anyone. If you feel yourself heading towards the holiday party “Hall Of Shame,” by all means, chow down. Appetizers made from breads, fatty cheeses, and heavy spreads will slow the absorption of alcohol into your stomach lining, keeping you from feeling too tipsy.